Holdfast for boots or shoes.



No. 659,6l5. l Patented nu. 9, |9011.

C. D. BOWEN.

HDLDFAST FOR .BOTS 10B- SHOES.

(Application ld Dec. 29, 1899.)

(No Model.)

,me Nonms versus co.. PncrmLmau.. wAsHINumu, usm

Nrrn in: rnrns ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. BOWEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK MCGRATH, OF SAME PLACE.

HOLDFASTFOR BOOTS O'R SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,615, dated October 9, 1900.

Application tiled December 29, 1899. Serial No. 741,903. (No model.)

To all whom it 7er/ty concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Holdfasts for Boots or Shoes, ttc., of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specilication, like characters on the drawings repro resenting like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel holdfast adapted to be applied to the heel of a boot or shoe and to be used in weather when the sidewalks are slippery.

In accordance with my invention I provide the heel with a suitable recess in which I insert a bushing containing adevice presenting a plurality of prongs, said device being unzo der the control of an adjusting device whereby the prongs may be made to project from the face-plate of the bushing whenever needed or the prongs be retracted or concealed in the bushing when the walking is dry and not slippery.

Figure l represents a sufiicient portion of a boot or shoe of usual construction, the heel being broken out and one of my improved holdfasts applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the holdfast detached. Fig. 3 shows the holdfast looking at its face-plate. Fig. 4 shows the prong device detached. Fig. 5 shows a key for manipulating the prongs. Fig. 6 shows the face-plate before the same is acted upon to retain the adjusting device in working position. Fig. 7 is a section of Fig. (i in the line Q52.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the upper of an ordinary shoe, B the sole, and

4o C the heel. The heel is provided from its toplift end with a chamber c, which receives the shank d of a bushing D, said bushing presenting not only the shank, but a face-plate d', having suitable holes d2 for the reception of screws by which to attach the bushing to the heel-of the shoe, the face-plate entering, preferably, a suitable recess of corresponding shape cut in the top lift. The face-plate of the bushing is provided (see Fig. 6) with cen- 5o tral holes d3 d4 of different diameters, the hole d3 being of a diameter to receive the threaded shank of an adjusting device e, represented as a screw having a head c', the outer side of the head being beveled, so that the head is thin at its circumference. The head enters loosely the hole d4. The threaded shank of the adjusting device e engages suitable screwthreadsf in a plate or washerf, with which are connected a plurality of prongs f2, said prongs entering suitable holes 2, made in the face-plate. (See Fig. 3.)

The parts having been assembled, as represented in Fig. 2, to confine the adjusting device in the bushing, so that it may be rotated, but yet so that it cannot be withdrawn from the bushing, I preferably act upon the Wall of the face-plate surrounding the head of the adjusting device e with a reamer and ream or turn inwardly a portion of the faceplate, as represented in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig. 3, said turned-in portion presenting a sort of lip which overlaps somewhat the head of the adjusting device.

The hole e2 in the end of the adjusting device is of suitable shape to receive a key or screw-driver h, it having one end suitably shaped to enter and engage the 'opening in the adjusting device.

Normally in weather when there is no danger of slipping in walking the plate f will occupy such a position in the bushing as to cause the ends of the prongs to stand entirely within the face-plate, but when the walking is slippery the wearer of the boot or shoe will insert the key h in the end of the adjusting device and rotate the adjusting device, causing the screw-threaded part to draw outwardly the plate f and project the prongs from the holes 2 in the face-plate, the points of the l prongs being permitted to project more or less, as may be desired.

The prongs are herein shown as of considerable' length, and should they become dull they can be filed and shortened, the length being sufiicient to outlast'several pairs of shoes.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A holdfast consisting of a bushing having a face-plate provided with a series of holes, an adj usting-screw mounted in said face-plate, a plate or washer adapted to be adj usted by IOO said screw and provided with a series of prongs passing through the holes in the faceplate.

2. A holdfast consisting of a bushing having a face-plate provided with a series of holes, an adjusting-screw rotatably mounted centrally of said holes, a plate or washer adapted to be adjusted by said screw, and provided with a series of pr'ongs passing through the said holes in the face-plate and distributed around the adjusting-screw.

3. A holdfast comprising a bushing having a face-plate extending over its exposed end and provided centrally thereof With an adjusting-screw rotatably mounted therein, a

metallic plate or Washer located entirely within the bushing above the face-plate and engaged bysaid adjusting-sorew,'said faceplate being provided with a series of prongs extending therefrom and passing through the face-plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES D. BOWEN.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, MARGARET A. DUNN. 

